US7950340B1ExpiredUtility

Pontoon boat

90
Assignee: TRITON IND INCPriority: Aug 19, 2005Filed: Aug 19, 2005Granted: May 31, 2011
Est. expiryAug 19, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David J. Curtis
B63B 1/125B63B 1/20
90
PatentIndex Score
33
Cited by
24
References
28
Claims

Abstract

A pontoon boat having enhanced handling characteristics includes a deck, a central pontoon mounted to said deck, two outer pontoons mounted to said deck on respective opposite sides of said central pontoon, and a motor, wherein the central pontoon extends below the outer pontoons to create a V-shaped hull, and the motor is capable of causing said center and outer pontoons to plane during normal operation.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A pontoon boat having an overall length of about 18 to about 32 feet comprising a deck, a central pontoon, two outer pontoons on respective opposite sides of said central pontoon, said deck extending above said central and said two outer pontoons, and a motor, wherein said central pontoon and said outer pontoons are of generally cylindrical configuration at least on their lower halves and further comprise planing elements, said central and outer pontoons supporting the entire weight of the boat and passengers by displacement when the boat is stationary and positioned in substantially fixed relationship with respect to each other such that said central pontoon extends below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons by a distance of from two inches to eight inches for substantially the length of said central pontoon including at least a substantial portion of the central pontoon in the aft section of said boat to provide a V-shape to the overall cross-sectional configuration of said central and outer pontoons and to provide greater buoyancy in the central longitudinal part of said boat than at either of the outer longitudinal parts of said boat, and the displacement and planing characteristics of said central and outer pontoons are such that said central pontoon and at least one of said outer pontoons are always in displacement or planing contact with water during normal operation and said boat heels into turns, the width of said central pontoon is from about 20 to about 32 inches, the width of each of said outer pontoons is from about 23 to about 25 inches, and said motor is capable of causing said center and outer pontoons to plane during said normal operation. 
     
     
       2. A pontoon boat according to  claim 1  wherein the weight to horsepower ratio of said boat is about 31 pounds per horsepower or less. 
     
     
       3. A pontoon boat according to  claim 2  wherein said overall length is from about 22 to about 26 feet, the width of said central pontoon is about 25 to about 27 inches, and the width of said outer pontoons is about 23 to about 25 inches. 
     
     
       4. A pontoon boat according to  claim 3  wherein said weight to horsepower ratio is from about 19 to about 21. 
     
     
       5. A pontoon boat according to  claim 3  wherein said outer pontoons are positioned such that a line connecting the lowermost points of the central pontoon and each respective outer pontoon forms an angle of from 2 to 22 degrees with the horizontal. 
     
     
       6. A pontoon boat according to  claim 5  wherein said line connecting the lowermost points of the central pontoon and each respective outer pontoon forms an angle of 7.5 degrees with the horizontal. 
     
     
       7. A pontoon boat according to  claim 1  wherein the lowermost point of said central pontoon extends below the lowermost point of said transversely adjacent portion of each respective outer pontoon by a distance of about five inches. 
     
     
       8. A pontoon boat according to  claim 2  wherein said planing elements comprise lifting strakes on at least one of said pontoons. 
     
     
       9. A pontoon boat according to  claim 1  wherein the width of said central pontoon is greater than the width of each of said outer pontoons. 
     
     
       10. A pontoon boat according to  claim 1  wherein said central pontoon extends below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons by a distance greater than two inches. 
     
     
       11. A pontoon boat according to  claim 10  wherein said central pontoon extends below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons by a distance less than eight inches. 
     
     
       12. A pontoon boat according to  claim 1  wherein said planing elements comprise lifting strakes on each of said central and outer pontoons, said strakes being angled upwardly. 
     
     
       13. A pontoon boat according to  claim 12  wherein said strakes on said central pontoon are from 6.4 inches to 7.7 inches in width and are angled upwardly by 7° to 10.5° with respect to the horizontal, and said strakes on said outer pontoons are 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches in width and are angled upwardly by 21° to 32° with respect to the horizontal. 
     
     
       14. A pontoon boat comprising a deck, a central pontoon, two outer pontoons on respective opposite sides of said central pontoon, said deck extending above said central and said two outer pontoons, and a motor,
 wherein said central pontoon and said outer pontoons are of generally cylindrical configuration at least on their lower halves and comprise planing elements, and said central and outer pontoons support the entire weight of the boat and passengers by displacement when the boat is stationary, are positioned in substantially fixed relationship with respect to each other such that said central pontoon extends two inches to eight inches below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons for substantially the length of said central pontoon including at least a substantial portion of the central pontoon in the aft section of said boat to provide a V-shape to the overall cross-sectional configuration of said central and outer pontoons and to provide greater buoyancy in the central longitudinal part of said boat than at either of the outer longitudinal parts of said boat, and the displacement and planing characteristics of said central and outer pontoons are such that said central pontoon and at least one of said outer pontoons are always in displacement or planing contact with water during normal operation and the boat heels into turns, and said motor is capable of causing said center and outer pontoons to plane during said normal operation. 
 
     
     
       15. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein the overall length of said pontoon boat is about 18 to about 32 feet in length, the width of said central pontoon is about 20 to about 32 inches, and the width of said outer pontoons is about 18 to about 30 inches. 
     
     
       16. A pontoon boat according to  claim 15  wherein said overall length is about 22 to about 26 feet, the width of said central pontoon is about 25 to 27 inches, and the width of said outer pontoons is about 23 to about 25 inches. 
     
     
       17. A pontoon boat according to  claim 16  wherein said overall length is about 24 feet, the width of said central pontoon is about 27 inches, and the width of said outer pontoons is about 23 inches. 
     
     
       18. A pontoon boat according to  claim 17  wherein said weight to horsepower ratio is from about 19 to about 21. 
     
     
       19. A pontoon boat according to  claim 17  wherein said outer pontoons are positioned such that a line connecting the lowermost points of the central pontoon and each respective outer pontoon forms an angle of from 2 to 22 degrees with the horizontal. 
     
     
       20. A pontoon boat according to  claim 19  wherein said line connecting the lowermost points of the central pontoon and each respective outer pontoon forms an angle of 7.5 degrees with the horizontal. 
     
     
       21. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein the lowermost point of said central pontoon extends below the lowermost point of said transversely adjacent portion of each respective outer pontoon by a distance of about five inches. 
     
     
       22. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein said planing elements comprise lifting strakes on at least one of said pontoons. 
     
     
       23. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein the weight to horsepower ratio of said boat is about 31 pounds per horsepower or less. 
     
     
       24. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein the width of said central pontoon is greater than the width of each of said outer pontoons. 
     
     
       25. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein said central pontoon extends below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons by a distance greater than two inches. 
     
     
       26. A pontoon boat according to  claim 25  wherein said central pontoon extends below transversely adjacent portions of said outer pontoons by a distance less than eight inches. 
     
     
       27. A pontoon boat according to  claim 14  wherein said planing elements comprise lifting strakes on each of said central and outer pontoons, said strakes being angled upwardly. 
     
     
       28. A pontoon boat according to  claim 27  wherein said strakes on said central pontoon are from 6.4 inches to 7.7 inches in width and are angled upwardly by 7° to 10.5° with respect to the horizontal, and said strakes on said outer pontoons are 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches in width and are angled upwardly by 21° to 32° with respect to the horizontal.

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